Posts Tagged "NC DOT"

Thanksgiving Work of Another Kind

Posted by Pat Stewart on Jan 15, 2013 in My Blog, NC Outer Banks | 0 comments

Hurricane Sandy (aka Superstorm Sandy) was one of the most devastating natural disasters on American soil.  For many in the northeastern USA, it took their homes, their businesses and life-long belongings.  Even more tragic, Sandy also took over 100 lives.  Seeing the news coverage of the storm’s ferocious devastation, the NYC subway flooding made us realize, I guess, with new respect, just how powerful Mother Nature is.  Our prayers continue for the victims and their losses. The NC Outer Banks got hit a lot harder than most realize.  There hasn’t been the media coverage as there has been for the northeast.  Homes were swallowed by the sea, businesses were lost and the single Hwy.12, which transports people to their homes, work, school, churches and vacationers to their little peaceful respite, was itself swallowed by that ferocious ocean.  Hwy, 12 has been reworked numerous times after other storms, but I think what was so devastating about Sandy’s damaged is that the Outer Banks got hit by the ocean AND on the sound side.   The NC Outer Banks are barrier islands, but are not anchored to offshore coral reefs as many barrier islands are.  This make the OBX susceptible to significant beach erosion during heavy storms.  The OBX are recognized as the part of the Atlantic coast north of Florida most prone to hurricane damage. The Halloween storm Sandy has the NC DOT working along with the Army Corps of Engineers non-stop and here we are nearly three months later.  Much progress has been made, but some folks are still unable to get to or leave their homes.  The ferry from Hatteras to Ocracoke Island is barely an on and off again schedule due to so much sand being dumped in the sound and inlet waters. The picture above is an awesome shot from the Virginian-Pilot: A North Carolina Department of Transportation worker, Pablo Hernandez, resident Engineer,  jumps over ocean water as he moves cones on the damaged section of N.C. 12 north of the Mirlo Beach area of Rodanthe on Hatteras Island on Monday, Nov. 19, 2012.  What a way for Pablo to spend his Thanksgiving Day…a gift to all of...